DHS Logo FEATURED 05-24-17

Darien High School Valedictorian, Salutatorian Named; Full List of Students Honored at Awards Ceremony

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At Darien High School’s graduation ceremony on Friday, June 16, Komal Dhull will be the valedictorian, and Indira Flores the salutatorian. Dhull and Flores were among the dozens of DHS students who were presented with 2017 awards at a ceremony held Thursday. Here’s the full list:

(The awards are shown here two ways — first, by student last names, then by awards, each in alphabetical order.)

See also: Letter: Darien High School Principal Ellen Dunn Thanks Scholarship Donors (May 24)
LIST IN ORDER OF STUDENT NAMES

Buck
Allen

Principal’s Award

Susan
Alptekin

CIAC Award of Excellence

Samantha
Aparicio

Principal’s Award

Lucy
Armstrong
Art Department Drawing and Painting Award

Lucy
Armstrong

Senior Mathematics Award

Catherine
Arrix

Principal’s Award

Stina
Arstorp
Art Department Drawing and Painting Award

Sara
Baldwin

Music for Youth Scholarship Award

Kyra
Balenzano

Northeast Conference Award
for Spanish

Kyra
Balenzano

Principal’s Award

Thea
Belak

Principal’s Award

Andrew
Benz

Harold A. Peterson Math Award

Andrew
Benz

Math Team Award

Andrew
Benz

Northeast Conference Award
for Latin

Brendan
Berrigan

Debate Team Leadership and Excellence Award

Brendan
Berrigan

Principal’s Award

James
Bieler

Principal’s Award

James
Bieler

The Western Connecticut Military Officers Young American Award

Kerry
Blatney

Cornell Book Award

Kerry
Blatney

Society of Women Engineers Award

Amanda
Blaze

Music for Youth Scholarship Award

Theadora
Bolton

Principal’s Award

Claire
Borecki

Theatre 308 Service Award

Claire
Borecki

Neirad Writing Award

Elizabeth
Borecki

Music Service Award

Elizabeth
Borecki

Faculty Award

Elizabeth
Borecki

Paul Engemann Heart and Soul Award

Elizabeth
Borecki

Superintendent’s Citizenship Award

Elizabeth
Borecki

Theatre 308 Director’s Award

Michael
Borecki

CAS Student Leadership Award

Colleen
Brereton

Wellesley Club of Southern
Connecticut Book Award

Avery
Brook

Principal’s Award

Avery
Brook

The Depot Service Award

Avery
Brook

Theatre 308 Performance Award

Avery
Brook

Tom Ryan
Student Government Award

Casey
Brown

Faculty Award

Kaela
Buggy

Brandeis Book Award

John
Butcher

Computer Technology Achievement Award

John
Butcher

Principal’s Award

John
Butcher

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation
Noroton Fire Department

Alberto
Calderon

The Technology and Engineering Service Award

Charlotte
Campbell

Darien High School Parent’s
Association Award – Sophomore

Jack
Campbell

Faculty Award

Shea
Canaday

Faculty Award

Julia
Canora

Video Award

Keilani
Caruso

St. Michael’s College Book Award

Lesly
Chamorro

Faculty Award

Charles
Christensen

Art Department Ceramics Award

Alexander
Cohen

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation
Post 53

Finlay
Collins

Principal’s Award

Aidan
Connolly

Faculty Award

Kallianne
Coughlin

Jim Smith Award

Kallianne
Coughlin

Mary McKee Award

Abigail
Cragin

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Award

Catherine
Crosby

Art Department Photography Award

Antonia
Demopoulos

Darien Community Association Community Service Award

Antonia
Demopoulos

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation
Post 53

Komal
Dhull

Debate Team Leadership and Excellence Award

Komal
Dhull

Dr. Helen Merritt Award

Komal
Dhull

Dr. Stewart Atkinson
Valedictorian Award

Komal
Dhull

European History Award

Ria
Dhull

English 10 Award

Sean
Doran

Faculty Award

Sean
Doran

The Depot Service Award

Sean
Doran

The Depot Spirit Award

Gannon
Downs

Faculty Award

Mia
Dursht

CAS/CIAC Scholar Athlete Award

Mia
Dursht

English Department Award

Mia
Dursht

Faculty Award

Ethan
Ehlers

Faculty Award

Emily
Eppley

Faculty Award

Mila
Escajadillo

Fairfield County Association of Secondary School Principal’s Scholar Leader Award

Ellen
Ferguson

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation
Post 53

Indira
Flores

Salutatorian Award

Olivia
Fordyce

Theatre 308 Director’s Award

Lucas
Forlivio

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation
Noroton Heights Fire Department

David
Foster

Faculty Award

Cord
Fox

Principal’s Award

Jason
Gaaserud

Principal’s Award

Jason
Gaaserud

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation
Darien Fire Department

Ariel
Gianukakis

Art Department Ceramics Award

Ariel
Gianukakis

Principal’s Award

Emily
Gianunzio

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation
Post 53

Ryan
Gifford

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation
Post 53

Harrison
Gill

Principal’s Award

Trevor
Gilronan

DHS Technology and Engineering Award

Trevor
Gilronan

Principal’s Award

Alexandra
Glynn

Theatre 308 Award for Technical Theatre

Steven
Gomez

Delta Kappa Gamma Book Award

Natalie
Gorman

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation
Post 53

William
Granath

Northeast Conference Award
for Mandarin

William
Granath

Principal’s Award

Katherine
Greco

Global Art Award

Katherine
Gunya

Elaine Fattibene Book Award

Paul
Hager

Brown Book Award

Paul
Hager

Economics Book Award

Paul
Hager

Gettysburg College Book award

Malcolm
Hamilton-Hall

Principal’s Award

Michelle
Han

Art Department Ceramics Award

Leigh
Harrison

Faculty Award

Melissa
Hartunian

Faculty Award

Ben
Hayes

Principal’s Award

Timothy
Herget

Ralph M. Gibbs Award

Samuel
Hickey

Law and Government Award

Samuel
Hickey

Neirad Editorial Award

Nicholas
Hill

Kiwanis Award for Excellence in Technology Education

Granit
Hoti

Faculty Award

Isabella
Howe

Art Department Photography Award

Isabella
Howe

Darien High School Parent’s
Association Award – Senior

Isabella
Howe

Principal’s Award

Isabella
Howe

The Alicia Sillars
Depot Director’s Award

Katherine
Huffert

Kiwanis Musicians Award

Mary Lawrence
Huffman

Daughters of the American Revolution      Good Citizenship Award

James
Hunter

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation
Noroton Fire Department

James
Hunter

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation
Post 53

James
Johnson

Special History and
Social Science Award

James
Johnson

Veterans of Foreign Wars Award

Jordan
Kaloynides

Theatre 308 Performance Award

Madeleine
Keane

Art Department Photography Award

Brian
Keating

Jim Smith Award

Brian
Keating

Principal’s Award

Emma
Keleghan

Faculty Award

Daniel
Kelemen

Faculty Award

Emily
Knapp

Music for Youth Scholarship Award

Peter
Kniffin

Faculty Award

Oliver
Knight

University of Chicago Book Award

Anjay
Kornacki

Theatre 308 Performance Award

Alexander
Kostrzewski

The Technology and Engineering Service Award

Thomas
Kreuch

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation
Post 53

David
Kristof

The Technology Student Association Award

Kaitlyn
Kutz

Faculty Award

Caroline
Lacy

American Field Service Award
for Excellence in Spanish

Caroline
Lacy

Connecticut Association of Schools               Arts Award – Music

Caroline
Lacy

Outstanding Musicianship Award

Brooke
Laird

Music for Youth Scholarship Award

Brooke
Laird

The Darien Nature Center
Environmental Award

Lauren
Larizza

St. Lawrence Book Award

 

Forrest
Lazzara

Darien Board of Education Chairman’s Book Award

Forrest
Lazzara

Fairfield University School of Engineering & Sikorsky Aircraft Award

Valerie
Le

Art Department Graphic Design Award

Emma
Lesko

Principal’s Award

Olivia
Lew

Faculty Award

Olivia
Lew

Theatre 308 Award for Technical Theatre

Caroline
Lowder

Faculty Award

Courtney
Lowe

Faculty Award

Courtney
Lowe

Kiwanis Award for Excellence in Fine Arts

Caroline
Lui

Barnard College Book Award

Caroline
Lui

Special History and
Social Science Award

Jackson
Major

Darien Community Association Community Service Award

Emily
Markham

Business Education Award

Emily
Markham

CAS Student Leadership Award

Jose
Martinez

Kiwanis Musicians Award

Juliana
Mazzotta
Art Department Drawing and Painting Award

Juliana
Mazzotta

Darien Community Association Community Service Award

Juliana
Mazzotta

Principal’s Award

Ryan
McCarthy

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation
Post 53

Tanmay
Mehta

Society of Women Engineers Award

Gauri
Misra

Dariannus Award

Ryan
Morales

Art Department Ceramics Award

Kelly
Moran

Principal’s Award

Caleigh
Morr

Authentic Science Research Award

William
Morrill

Oberlin Book Award

Jake
Morro

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation
Noroton Heights Fire Department

Aria
Muchhal

Western Civilization Book Award

Laura
Murphy

Principal’s Award

Emily
Neuner

Smith Club Book Award

Theodore
Nolan

Faculty Award

Theodore
Nolan

The Technology Student AssociationAward

Kara
O’Rourke

Denison Book Award

Kara
O’Rourke

Trinity College Alumni Award

Camilo
Orozco

Faculty Award

Madeleine
Ostertag

Neirad Editorial Award

Madeleine
Ostertag

Northeast Conference Award
for French

Griffin
Ott

Fairfield University Book Award

Elizabeth
Palmer

Faculty Award

Elizabeth
Palmer

The Good Friend Scholarship Award in Memory of JR and Jacob

Cade
Pankowski

Darien Community Association Community Service Award

Daniel
Pfrommer

Bausch and Lomb
Honorary Science Award

Julia
Pfrommer

Debate Team Novice Debaters Award

Daniel
Pfrommer

Junior Mathematics Award

Samuel
Pfrommer

Principal’s Award

Daniel
Pfrommer

Yale Award

Clare
Phelps

Mt.

Ellen Dunn Principal Graduation 6-17-16

DHS Graduation Speech: Principal Ellen Dunn

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Darien High School Principal Ellen Dunn gave this “Presentation” speech (as prepared), for the Class of 2016 at their DHS graduation ceremony Thursday:

Good afternoon Members of the Darien Board of Education, Dr. Dan Brenner [superintendent of schools], colleagues, parents, grandparents, guests and most distinguished members of the Darien High School Class of 2016 … There is a long tradition at Darien High School of the graduates handing the principal a small gift as they receive their diplomas. I have been informed that the plan tonight is for each of you to give me a tiny origami star. You have selected the perfect gift. Stars capture our imaginations; they fuel our dreams and carry our wishes.

Katie Tsui Graduation 6-17-16

DHS Graduation Speech: Katie Tsui, Co-Salutatorian

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Here’s Co-salutatorian Katie Tsui’s speech (as prepared) at Darien High School’s Class of 2016 graduation ceremony on Thursday:

Good afternoon. On behalf of the rest of the Class of 2016, I would like to thank the faculty, staff, and teachers of Darien Public Schools, who have helped us transform from kindergarteners who once ate paper (you know exactly who you are) to more mature young adults about to receive the most important slip of paper, a diploma. I’d like to extend that gratitude to all the parents and friends, whether present or absent today, who have guided us thus far and will continue to serve as our anchors. And of course, I would be the worst co-salutatorian in history if I failed to congratulate the Class of 2016 before me. We’ve made it, and I am so proud to be graduating with you all.

Christian Ostberg graduation 6-17-16

DHS Graduation Speech: Christian Ostberg, Co-Salutatorian

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Here’s Co-salutatorian Christian Ostberg’s speech (as prepared and as he slightly revised it) at Darien High School’s Class of 2016 graduation ceremony on Thursday:

Good evening. I’d like to begin today by telling you a story. A story that has had a profound impact on my young life. One morning, this past fall, I was on duty with Post 53. Around 8 a.m., my crew was called to the scene of a home.

Chloe Zhou graduation 6-017-16

DHS Graduation Speech: Valedictory Address by Chloe Zhou

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Here’s Chloe Zhou’s valedictory address at the 2016 Darien High School graduation ceremony on Thursday, as prepared:

Hi everyone. I’d like to thank Mrs. Dunn and the administration, my dear friend Sarishka for her introduction, and my friends in the audience. I’d like to thank the narcs for keeping us straight, the cafeteria for serving giant cookies, and our Blue Wave sports teams for making it so I get looks of fear and disgust whenever I’m in New Canaan. And, of course, I’d like to thank my teachers, especially those who’ve been truly inspiring, and my amazing family. Thank you, Mom, Dad, Kai, Luka.

DHS logo Darien High School 5-24-16

DHS Graduation Speech: Breana Del Gatto

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Breana Del Gatto, DHS Community Council president, gave this speech at Darien High School’s graduation Thursday (as prepared):

Welcome everyone and good afternoon. I would like to welcome Mr. Harman, the Board of Education chair and the members of the Board of Education, Dr.Brenner our superintendent, Mrs. Dunn, our incredible principle, and our amazing vice principles Mr.Sullivan, Dr.Greenwood, and Mrs. Spark, the faculty, staff, and the parents and members of the class of 2016. This is it. We aren’t teenagers anymore. In the eyes of society, and the law, we’re adults.

DHS logo Darien High School 5-24-16

Darien High School Graduation Starts at 5 PM

Graduation is Thursday, June 16 at 5 p.m. on the DHS Stadium Field. No tickets are needed if the ceremony is held outdoors, and seating is unlimited. According to this Darien High School Web page on the graduation ceremony:

“Gates open at 4 p.m. and seats are first-come, first-served. There will be folding chair seats on the field, as well as the entire home side bleachers. The stage is elevated so all seats on the field and bleachers have good sight lines.